Since moving to DC, Cliff and I have heard wonderful things about the Outer Banks in North Carolina... so, we decided to go! Our trip was short -- two days and three nights, but this place did not disappoint.

For those unfamiliar with the area, the Outer Banks are a series of barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina. They stretch for 200 miles and are home to unique history and some incredible landscapes. Black Beard, the feared and famous pirate, traveled here; the Wright Brothers first flew here; and the lost colony of Roanoke was, well, lost here. I'm especially fascinated by the thousands of ship wrecks that dot the coast. There are so many that the Outer Banks are nicknamed the Graveyard of the Atlantic, and there's even a museum dedicated to these lost ships. (Unfortunately, it was closed when we got there--but that just means we'll have to go back!)

For two hick kids from Nebraska, the coolest thing was knowing we were on land that's essentially in the middle of the ocean. Smelling salty sea air, seeing dolphins, and coming across a baby seal while walking along the beach were all so special!

We purposely traveled during the off season to avoid the crowds, and even though it was a little cool and a lot windy, we cannot wait to come back!

I was hugely bummed when we got to the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum and it was closed for a state holiday. It's one thing I especially wanted to see. We made the most of it, though, and toured a few displays they had in the parking lot, including this antique anchor.

This is the view of the spot where Orville and Wilbur first took the air from a hole inside a replica of the barn where they kept their flying machine.

Wilbur and Orville are great, but we were more excited knowing we stood where Amelia Earhart once stood. She was in attendance for the dedication ceremony of this plaque.

Cliff pointed out the beautiful art deco design of monument as we were leaving. It's something had missed while we were visiting it. See the wings on the side?